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#9. George Mikan

Photo Credit: Seymour Wally - Getty Images

George Mikan was nicknamed Mr. Basketball and played 8 seasons with the Minneapolis Lakers. Mikan is widely viewed as one of the pioneers of professional basketball, redefining the role of big men with his rebounding and shot blocking, as well as his ability to shoot over smaller defenders with his ambidextrous hook shot. Mikan was a 2× NBL champion, NBL Most Valuable Player, and 4× NBA All-Star and is often considered the greatest player of the first half-century of basketball.